Wiping mechanism for intaglio printing presses



Nov. 21, 1939. A. M. wlcKwlRE, JR 2.180.785

WIPING-MECHANISM FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 21. 1939. A. M. wlcKwlRE, JR

WIPING MECHANISM, FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES v Filed June 22, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 21,1939

PATENT OFFICEi WIPIN G MEcHANIsM Foa m'rAGLIo rnm'rmc. rmsssns Arthur M. wickwire, Jr., Mountain Lakes, N. J., assgnor to Chambon Corporation, Gareld,

N. J., a corporation of New York Application June 22, 193s, semi No. 215,079

.12 claims. (ci. 1v1-i157) This invention relates to intaglio printing presses and particularly to an improved wiping mechanism and manner of mounting said mechanism. on lsuch a press and applying the desired pressure thereto.

In gravure or intaglio printing, the ink or other marking material is supplied to the printing cylform of a thin flexible steel blade, which is arranged to contact theprinting cylinder throughout the length thereof and exert scraping action onthe surface of the cylinder. I is essential that the doctor blade bear against thesurface of the cylinder uniformly throughout itsv length in lorder that al1 'excess ink will be removed and the desired uniform quantity will remain in the cells of the engraving. Any non-uniformity of pressure is liable to cause detrimental wear inpertions of the engraving and theA blade or a slight buckling or rippling ofthe blade so that in ceri tain portions thereof it may not contact the engraving at all.

In the past, various means have been suggested for producing proper pressure in the doctor blade. The simplest and most common arrangement has consisted of weights suspended from levers pro-I vided at each end'of the doctor blade; or springs provided at each end. Other pressure applying means have consisted of rather` cumbersome superstructures arranged above the .doctor blade for contacting it throughout its'length. Practically all of these devices. however, have either been complicated mechanically or required c ontrol attwo or more places to effect an adiustment of pressure. Moreover, with many of them it has been impossible or impracticable to make a desired adjustment of pressure while the press is in operation.

may be obviated and uniform pressure may be applied atboth ends of `a doctor blade by a simple mechanism having a single adjusting means which is readily accessible during operation of the press. i

In accordance'with my invention,` in one form- .engraved printing cylinder I4. Ink 1s lsupphed thereof which I now consider `most desirable,

pressure is applied uniformly andsimultaneously at both ends of the doctor blade holder by means of a single spring which is' so-arranged that the tension thereof may be regulated from a convenient `place while the press is operating. The single tension spring may be `arranged in` any convenient location, and the pressure created thereby transmitted through cables and pulleys to cranks and links associated with the doctor blade holder.' The pressure transmitting system includes two pulleys, one of which may be moved with respect to theother to increase'or decrease the tension in the spring. l

The above andv other features and objects of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig'. 1 is a plan view showing the entire construction; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing thedoctor blade in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 3 -3 ofl Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and showing thedoctor blade in operative position;

l Fig. 5` is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away and in section, of the double pulley mechanism for adjusting the spring tension;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinalvertical sectional View takensubstantially along the line ST6 of Fig. 5;` and Fig. '7 isa transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 1--1 of Fig. 6.

I have shown the features of4 my invention embodied in an intaglio printing machine of the generaltype disclosed'in my copending application Ser."No. 217,139 led July 2, 1938, only so much of the machine being shown herein as is necessary for anunderstandingof the present n invention. It is to be understood, however, that theinventi'on is not restricted in its use to such a machine, but the principal features thereof may be used -in intaglioprinting,machines generally.

Referring now to the draWingsVand particularly Figs. v.1-and2, it will `be observed that the in -taglio .printing machine comprises side frames` I0 having horizontallydisposed portions or members I 2, infwhich is journalled the shaft of an to the surface of the printing cylinder inquantities greatery than required for printing and all excess ink `is removed by means of a wiping mechmechanism which forms the subject matter of my present invention.

'As shown, the wiping mechanism comprises a suitable laminated doctor blade I8 which may be removably secured, as by means of screws 20 (Figs. 1 and 3),'in a doctor blade holder 22. If desired, a deector 23 may be secured to the doctor blade holder so that when the doctor blade is in operative position (Fig. 4) any ink which may be thrown from the rotating printing cylinder will not come in contact with said doctor blade holder and the mechanism adjacent thereto. AThe doctor blade .holder is provided with suitable trunnions 24 at each end thereof and these are journalled in bearings 26 provided on depending brackets 28 secured to. or formed integrally with, a slidable supporting member 30. Supporting member 30 is rectangular in cross-section and is received in similarly shaped openings 32 provided in adjustable supporting blocks 34. At one side y of the press the supporting member 30 may be extended beyond the horizontal frame member I 2 and there connected to an actuating member 36 (Fig. 3) which is adapted, in a well known manner, to impart a reciprocating movement to the supporting member so as to reciprocate the doctor blade I8 across the surface of the printing cylinder.

Supporting blocks 34, which rest on thetop surfaces of the horizontal frame members l2, are provided at each side thereof` with upwardly projecting flanges 36 which slidably engage the side edges of an inverted U`shaped retaining bracket 38 fastened to the associated horizontal frame member I2 by means of screws 40. Thus, the supporting blocks may be moved along the horizontal frame members I2 toward and away from the printing cylinder so that the position of the entire wiping mechanism may be adjusted for cylinders of diiferent diameters. For effecting such movement of the supporting blocks 34, each block may be provided with a lug 42 having a threaded opening therein for receiving the reduced and threaded end 44 of a shaft 46 which is O.iournalled in a suitable bearing provided in a lug 48 formed on the bracket 38. The end of the shaft 46 opposite the threaded end l44 hasv a suitable spiral bevel gear 50 fixed thereon by means of a nut 52 and cooperating with a gear 54 mounted on a shaft 56. 'Ihis shaft. is suitably journalled in the brackets 38 and at one end thereof may be provided with a crank 58 so that v it may be readily turned to effect the abovementioned movement of the supporting blocks through the gears`54, spiral bevel gears 50 and threaded shaft end 44 in an obvious manner.

When the wiping mechanism is moved to the desired position with reference to the printing cylinder I4 by turning the crank 58, the doctor blade holder may be rotated from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 to the operative position shown in Fig. 4. To accomplish this, each trunnion 24 has a crank member or arm 60 mounted thereon. At the outer end of each crank 60 there is a headed pin 62 which is received in an elongated slot 64 provided in one end of a link 66. The other end of each link 66 is curved and pivotally connected to a crank member or arm 68 mounted on a shaft I0 which is journalled in special left and right hand brackets 12 and 'I4 respectively (Fig. 1)., secured in any suitable manner to the slidable supporting member 30.

- At one end, the shaft 'I0 extends beyond the side frames I0 and through an opening provided in an upstanding flange 16 formedk on the end Aoi? the supporting member 30. A hand lever or crank I8 is secured to this end of the-shaft 'l0 and by turning it the doctor blade may be moved from the Fig. 2 position to its operative position as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be noted in Fig. 4 that when the doctor blade is in operative position, the Vpin 62 may move in either direction in the slot 64 Without touching the ends of said slot. This is desirable in order that the doctor blade holder 22 may be moved or rotated slightly to produce the necessary pressure of the doctor blade I8 against the surface of the printing cylinder I4. I have provided a novel mechanism for producing this pressure, which mechanism will now be described.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the trunnion 24 at the right hand end of the doctor blade holder 22 (the left hand end in Fig. 1) has a segmentedv pulleir mounted thereon. A cable or cord B2 is fastened at one'end in any suitable manner in the lower extremity of the segmented pulley groove and extends upwardly over a pulley 84 which is horizontally pivoted in a housing 86 secured to the supporting member 30 adjacent the special bracket 12. 'I'he cable82 then extends substantially horizontally across the supporting member 3|'I and above the shaft I0 and has its other end connected to one end of a suitable oating tension spring 88. Similarly, the trunnion 24 at the left hand end of the doctor blade holder 22 has a segmented pulley 90 mounted thereon; and a cable 92 fastened thereto passes upwardly over a pulley 94 pivoted in a housing 96 mounted on the supporting member adjacent the bracket 'I4 and is connected to the opposite end of the tension spring 88. Openings 98 (Figs. 2 and 4) may be provided in theslidable supporting member 30, so that the cables 82 and 92 may pass substantially vertically upward to their associated pulleys 84 and 94 respectively.

By mechanism just described, the force created by the single tension spring 88 may ber transmitted to each end of the doctor blade in equal amounts so as to create a uniform pressure of the doctor blade against the lsurface of the printing cylinder, the amount of pressure created depending oh the size and characteristics of the spring 88. In order to permit adjustments in the pressure of the doctor blade, I have provided an adjusting mechanism |00 by means of which the tension in the spring 88 may be varied.

As best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, this adjusting mechanism comprises a substantially rectangular block-like housing |02 having an integrally formed standard |04 which is attached to the slidable supporting member 30 by means of screws |06. 'I'he cable 92 may be passed through an opening |08 which extends from the outside wall into a recess I I0 in which is mounted a supporting, block II2. A pulley II4 is rotatably mounted on a pin or shaft ||6 secured to the block ||2 and the cable 92 passes around this pulley and onto a pulley II8. This latter pulley is rotatably mounted on a pin |20 xed ina block |22 which is slidably receivedin a longitudinal groove |24 provided in the housing |02. From the pulley I8, the cable extends out of the housing |02 and to the spring 88. If desired, the top-of the housing may be closed with a cover |26.

- For moving the block |22 in the groove |24,

vided in a lug |34 formed on the end. of the housing |02, and extends outwardly through an opening provided in the flange 16 of the supporting member 30. A collar |36 is fixed on the shaft adjacent the lug |34 for maintaining said shaft -in proper position; and a hand wheel |38 may be provided at the .outer end of the shaft to facilitate turning it. It will be apparent that by turning the handwheel |38 the block |22 may be moved either to the right, as shown in Fig.

Iso asto increase the tension in the spring 88,

or to the left so as to decrease the tension of said spring. In this-manner the pressure with which the doctor blade contacts the surface of the printing cylinder may readily be varied. It is to be noted that all of the adjusting mechanism is carried by the slidable supporting member 30 so that, even though said member is reciprocating, adjustments in the doctor blade pressure may be made while the press is in operation.

Although I have described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it 'will be understood thatvvarious changes'may be made in the construction and certain features maybe employed without others, without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

l,What I claim is:

1. In an intaglio printing machine, the combination withl a doctor blade of a single resilient means for applying pressure equally to both ends of said doctor blade. Y

2. In an intagllo-prirting machine, the combination with a doctor .blade of a single lspring for applying pressure equally to ,both ends of said doctor blade and means for regulating such pressure.`

3. In an intaglio printing machine, a printing cylinder, a doctor blade mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said printing cylinder, and a single spring for applyingpres sure to said doctor blade'in equal amounts at each end thereof.

4. In an intaglio printing machine, a pair of side frames, a printing cylinder journalled in said frames, a supporting member mounted on said frames, a doctor blade holder pivotally mounted on said support and having a/fdoctor blade mounted therein, and a single spring arranged for applying rotative force' to said doctor blade holder at each end thereof. p

5. In an intaglio printing machine including a printing cylinder, a unitary wiping mechanism comprising a support, a ,doctor blade holder pivotally mounted nn said support, said holder being adapted to be rotated into wiping contact Iwith said printing cylinder and having a doctor blade mounted therein, anda single spring for 'applying rotative force to said doctor blade holderat each end thereof for producing pressure in said doctor blade against said printing cylinder. I

6. In an intaglio printing machine including a printing cylinder, a unitary wiping mechanism comprising a-support, a doctor blade holder pivotally vmounted on said support, said `holder be-y ing adapted to be rotated intowiping contact with said printing cylinder and having a doctor blade mounted therein, a single spring for applying rotative force to said doctor blade holder at each Aend thereof lfor vproducing pressure in said doctor blade against said printing cylinder,

yand means for regulating the tension in said spring so as to vary such pressure.

'7. In an intaglio printing machine including a printing cylindena unitary wipin'gmechanism comprising a support; a doctor blade holder pivotally mounted on said support and having a doctor blade mounted therein, said holder being adapted to be rotated into wiping contact with said printing cylinder; and means for applying rotative force to said doctor blade holder, said means comprising al tension spring having one end connected by a cable to one end of the doctor blade holder and-the other end connected by a cable tothe other end of said doctor blade holder.

8. In an intaglio printing machine including a printing cylinder, a unitary wiping mechanism comprising a support; a doctor blade holder pivotally mounted on said support and having a docto-r blade mounted therein, said holder being adapted to be rotated into wiping contact with said printing cylinder; and means for applying rotative force to said doctor blade holder, said means comprising a tension spring having one end connectedby a cable to one end of the doctor blade holder and the other end connected by a cable to the other end of said doctor blade holder, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

9. In an intaglio printing machine including a printing cylinder, a unitary wiping mechanism comprising a support;I a doctor blade holder pivotally mounted on said support and having a doctor blade mounted therein, said holder being a printing cylinder, a unitary wiping mechanism comprising asupport;l a doctor blade'holder pivotally mounted von said support and'having a doctor blade mounted therein, said holder being adapted to be rotated into wiping contact with said printing cylinder; and means mounted on said support for applying rotative force to said doctor blade holder, said" means comprising a single tension spring arranged so that the force thereof may be transmitted through cables and pulleys to said doctor blade holder, such force transmitting system including two pulleys, one of which is adjustable with. respect to the other for varying the tension in` said spring.

1l. In an intaglio printing machine, the com-V bination with a doctor blade of a single resilient means vdisposed between the ends of the'doctor blade and arranged to apply pressure simultaneously and in equal amounts to both ends o f said doctor blade.

12. In an intaglio printing machine, the corribination with a doctor blade of a single resilient means disposed between the ends of 'the doctor blade and arranged to apply pressure simultane ously and in equal amounts to both ends of said doctor blade, and means for regulating said single resilient means so as to vary the amounts of 

